Context
Karen Townsend, HR Business Partner at the Countess of Chester, managed the day-to-day of the grievance process Letby filed against the consultants who raised concerns about her. Her Thirlwall Inquiry evidence documents the HR mechanics of the “apology letter” sequence in specific detail.
Key ground
Ms Townsend, Divisional Director of Urgent Care responsible for the neonatal unit from September 2015, said she first learned of increased mortality from Women and Children’s Care Governance Board minutes of 18 December 2015, without seeing the underlying report, and did not raise it with Dr Brearey or Dr Jayaram. Asked why she had not asked them what was happening, she agreed it “was a gap and a failing on my point”. She said she did not become aware that a thematic review had taken place, or that Dr Jayaram suspected a staff member, until minutes of a 16 June 2016 meeting reached her board in July.
Read alongside
Sue Hodkinson, Dr Newby (on the receiving end of the apology-letter requirement).